Package wrapping table



Jan. 19, 1960 M. A. WERTHEIMER 2,921,424

PACKAGE WRAPPING TABLE Filed Jan. 9. 195a INVENTOR. M/uwv A- WERJWEIMER United States Patent 2,921,424 PACKAGE WRAPPING TABLE Milton A. Wertheim'er, Rock Island, 11]., assignor to Gellmau Manufacturing Co., Rock Island, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application January 9, 1958, Serial No. 708,003

'4 Claims. (Cl. 53-219 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a package wrapping table for use in conjunction with a package wrapping and sealing machine and on which table the package to be wrapped and sealed by the machine is partially prewrapped.

The principal object of my invention is in the provision in a device of this character of a package wrapping table whereby cut sheets of wrapping material are movably retained on the table top. Another object of my invention is in the provision in adevice of this character of drop leaf sides which may be placed in an operative position with respect to the table top and the means for holding the cut sheets thereon.

Still a further object of my invention is in the provision in adevice of this character of a tray for holding the precut sheets of wrapping material.

Another object of my invention is the provision for two operators to make use separately of the table top for wrapping.

.Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in-the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be. hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational perspective view of my wrapping table showing it in juxtaposition with a wrapping and sealing machine fragmentarily shown;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational perspective view of my wrapping table; a

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the'tray holder for the precut sheets of wrapping material;

-Fig. 4 is a top plan view of my wrapping-table; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of the mounting means for the tray holder.

The wrapping table of my invention is designed to be used in conjunction with a semi-automatic wrapping machine shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 696,663, now Patent No. 2,853,841. In the operation of such semi-automatic wrapping and sealing. machine, the operator must first partially wrap the package before inserting it on such machine.

In order to enable the operator to be in a position to conveniently coordinate her movements and prewrap the package, I have invented the wrapping table described hereinafter.

The wrapping table consists of a plurality of vertically extending legs 10. The top of the legs horizontally support a rectangular table top 11. Interposed between the legs 10 and beneath the table top 11 are a plurality of shelves 12.

Hingedly connected to each of the longitudinal edges 13 and 14 of the table top 11, is a pair of oppositely extending drop leaf extensions 15 and 16. Each of these drop leaf extensions 15 and 16 have their rear edges 17 in the same plane as the rear edge 18 of the table top 11 as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

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The leading edges 19 and 20 of such drop leaf ems sions 15 and 16 taper inwardly toward the table top 11 and join the table top 11 at approximately the same location that certain of the legs 10 meet with such top 11. Under such construction a horizontally extending portion 21 is provided by the table top 11. Mounted on the end of such extension 21 is a heat sealing unit 22 of any well-known construction.

The wrapping material to be used in this machine is generally of the heat sensitive type such as cellophane or the like. Thus when the wrapping material is placed on the heat sealing unit 22, such wrapping material will be sealed to the package therein. The tapered edges 19 and 20 of the drop leaf extensions 15 and 16 provided vertically extending retainer walls 23 and 24. These retainer walls 23 and 24 each provide cut out portions 25 and 26. These retainer walls provide cut-out portions 25 and 26 with pivoted plates 25' and 26, respectively, so that the cut-out portions may be opened or closed, as desired.

Each of the drop leaf extensions 15 and 16 have pivotally connected on the under side thereof, by means of a U-shaped bracket 27, supporting rods 28, see Figs. 1 and 2. Each of these rods 28 has its lower end 29 insertable in an aperture 30 formed on one of the appropriate shelves 12 as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2.

The table top 11 has formed therein opposite diagonally extending slots 31. These slots extend in the direction of the cut out portions 25 and 26 formed in the retaining Walls 23 and 24.

The precut sheets of wrapping material W are adapted to be carried by a tray holder 32, Fig. 3. This tray holder 32 provides a bottom plate 33. Extending vertically from two edges of the bottom plate 33 are right triangular shaped side 34 and 35. Each of these sides 34 and 35 have their acute angles abutting each other at one corner 36 of the bottom plate 33 as shown in Fig. 3.

The precut wrapping material W is held on the tray 32 by a clamp member 37. This clamp member 37 provides a base plate 38. Extending vertically from the base plate 38 is a post 39. The top portion 40 of this post I 39 is bent laterally into spaced parallel relation with respect to the base plate 38 as shown in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description, it is clearly obvious that the base plate 38, the post 39 and the lateral extension 40 form a U-shaped clamp member.

Press fitted into an aperture 41 formed in the base plate 38 is a bearing structure 42. This bearing structure 42 provides a foot 43 which is positionable in either of the slots 31 formed in the table top 11. The bearing: structure 42 assures that the tray holder 32 will be in alignment and centered with the package to be wrapped. The bearing structure communicates with an aperture 44 formed in the bottom plate 33 of the tray 32 adjacent the corner 36. The bearing structure 42 provides a recess 45 in open communication with the aperture 44. Vertically carried by the lateral extension 40 of the clamp 37 is a clamp rod 46. This clamp rod has its lower extremity tapered as at -47 so as to form a needle like point. When the precut wrapping material Wis placed on the tray 32, the material W will be uniformly stacked by the sides 34 and 35 into the corner 36. The clamp rod 46 is then threaded downwardly through the lateral extension 40 of the clamp member 37 until the tapered extremity 47 thereof pierces the stacked wrapping material W and has its point inserted into the opening 45 of the bearing structure 42 as seen in Fig. 5.

By reason of the location and length of the slots 31 formed in the table top 11, I may readily employ a plurality of trays 32 of various sizes and thereby I can,

.Patented Jan. 19, 19 60 3 accommodate wrapping material W of likewise various sizes.

The operator will position herself adjacent the tapered edges 19 and/or 20 of the drop leaf extensions 15 and 16 and will place upon thetable}top '11,ja'tray32containing the desired's'iz e precu't wrapping material, The bushing structure'42 will be inserted inei ther'of theslots 31 when the tray 32 isplacedon the'tabletop "11. was it is readily seen that the tray 32 is adjustably contained on the table top 11,and ,may be moved'relativejo the retaining walls of the drop leaf extensions until the'free corners of the wrapping material W extend to proper location to suit the size of various packages to be wrapped. The pivoted plates '25 and 26' rnay bemoived to open the cut-outs 2-5 and 26 in retaining walls 23' an'd 24 to allow the free corners of the wrapping material to extend through the cut-out portions of the retaining walls. This is necessary toproperly center the cut sheet of paper on narrowpackages. The operator will tnake a preliminary wrap of the package by placing the tray of material in an upright position upon the uppermost sheet of wrapping material across one corner of paper and against retain-ing walls '25 and '26. The extremefree corner of wrapping paper is drawn over the top 'of'the package and downward over retaining walls '25 and 26. The package is lifted from the table and the free corner of paper is brought under the package. The tray together with the wrapping material is passed over the heat sealing unit 22 and the package is then placed on the automatic wrapping and sealing machine to be completely wrapped.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 'I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope 'of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A package wrapping table having an enlarged rectang'ular shaped table top, side drop leaf extensions and of a length less than the longitudinal length of said table top and hingedlyconnected to opposite longitudinal edges of such table top and having one edge thereof in substantially the same plane with respect to one end of'the table top, the opposite edges of the drop leaf extensions being tapered toward the table top and intercepting the same inwardly of the other end thereof, said tapered edges of said extensions provided with vertically extending wrapping rriaterial retaining walls, means cooperating with said drop leaf extensions and said table for removably positioning said drop 'leaf extensions in operative position with respect to the table top, a wrapping material tray positionable on the table top, a clamp member cooperating with said tray to position and secure the wrapping material thereon, means on said clamp'rnember and cooperating with the table top to position one corner of said tray substantially transversely of said tabletop 'and said extensions and relative to said retaining walls of said drop leaf extensions, and a wrapper sealer carried by. the table top adjacent said wrapper retaining walls.

. 2. A package wrapping table having an enlarged rectangular, shaped table top, side drop leaf extensions and of a length less than the longitudinal length of said table top and hingedly connected to opposite longitudinal edges of such table top and having one edge thereof in substantially the same plane with respectto one end' of the table top, the oppositeedgesof the dropleaf extensions being tapered toward the'table-top and interceptingthe same inwardly of theother endthr'ebflthpered edges of said extensions provided with vertically extending wrapping material retaining walls, means cooperating with said drop leaf extensions and said table for removably positioning said drop leaf extensions in operative position with respect to the table top, a wrapping material tray positionable on the table top, a clamp member cooperating with said tray to position and secure the wrapping material thereon, a depending bearing member carried by said clamp member and cooperating with positioning slots formed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal edges of said table top and at a right angle to said retaining walls so as to position said tray thereon relativeto said retaining walls of said drop leaf extensions, and a wrapper sealer carried by the table top adjacent said wrapper retaining walls.

3. A package wrapping table having an enlarged rectangular shaped table top, side drop leaf extensions and of a length less than the longitudinal length of saidtable top and hingedly connected to opposite longitudinaledges of such table top and having one edge thereof'in sub stantially the same plane with respect to one end ofthe table top, the opposite edges of the drop leaf extensions being tapered towardthe table top and intercepting the same'inwardly of the other end thereof, said tapered edges of said extensions provided with vertically extend ing wrapping material retaining walls, means cooperating with said dropleaf extensions and said table for removably positioning said drop leaf extensions in operative position with respect tothe table top, a wrapping material tray positionable on the table top, a U-shaped clamp member carried by said'tray adjacent one corner thereof, means onsaid clamp member and cooperating with'said tray to position and secure the wrapping material thereon, a depending bearingmemb'er carried by said clamp member and cooperating with positioning slots formed at an angle with respect to thelongitudinal edges of said table top and at a right angle to said retaining walls so asto position said tray thereon relative to said retaining walls of said drop leaf extensions, and a wrapper sealer carried by the table top adjacent said wrapper retaining walls.

4. A package wrapping table having an enlarged'rectangular shaped tabletop, side drop leaf extensions and of a length less than the longitudinal length of said table top and hingedly connected to opposite longitudinal edges of such'table top and having one edge thereof in substantially'the same plane with respect to one'end of the table top,the opposite edges of the drop leaf extensions being tapered toward the table top and intercepting the same inwardly of the other end thereof, said tapered edges of said extensions provided with vertically extending wrapping material retaining walls, supporting rods provided by said drop leaf extensions and cooperating with acertain shelf of said table for removably positioning said drop leaf extensions in operative position with respect tofthe table top, a wrapping material tray positionable on the table top, a U-shaped clamp member carried by said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

